In addition to the WEA development, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, SEI proposed recommendations to enhance trust in the WEA service among stakeholders, which is a crucial factor in the effectiveness of WEAs.

The four best practices identified as most important by SEI to alert originators included the WEA Go-Live Checklist, which identifies key steps an emergency management agency should perform when implementing WEA in a local jurisdiction, and the WEA Training and Drilling Guide that identifies the key steps an agency should consider when preparing to use WEA.

Also identified as important best practices were the WEA Governance Guide that identifies key steps an emergency agency should consider when preparing to use WEA and the WEA Security Pocket Guide that presents a cybersecurity risk management strategy alert originators can use to assess and manage cybersecurity risks throughout WEA adoption, operations and sustainment.

SEI's examination of the trust in WEA by the public and alert originators considered such factors as appropriateness, availability and effectiveness and proposed recommendations to enhance trust for each stakeholder group.